Bottle support



Dec. 2, 1941. D. W. TIEGLER ET AL 2,264,489

BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed June 12, 1940 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNKTED STAT BOTTLE SUPPORT Application June 1.2, 1940, Serial No. 340,168

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for supporting bottles in standing position so as to minimize inadvertent tipping over of the same, the principal object being the provision of a device of this type that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and eflicient in use.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a bottle support that is applicable for use with bottles cf varying sizes and varying cross-sectional configurations; the provision of a device of the type described that is easily and quickly applicable to and removable from a bottlej the provision of a device of the type described including a relatively flat member provided with two opposed groups of flexible fingers between which a bottle to be supported may be inserted; the provision of a bottle support of the type described formed from a piece of sheet-like rubber and slitted to provide opposed groups of fingers therein; the provision of a bottle support of the type described in which the fingers are of substantially equal length; and the provision of a bottle support of the type described in which the fingers are of varying lengths.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in View.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates suitable embodiments of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. l is a plan view of one form of our iniproved bottle support;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle support shown in Fig. 1 in operative relation with respect to a bottle of rectangular cross-sectional configuration;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the bottle support in operative relation with respect to a bottle of circular cross-sectional configuration;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified form of construction; and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the bottle support shown in Fig. 4 as applied to a bottle having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Although the present invention is capable of being constructedin such sizes as to enable bottles of any size to be used in conjunction therewith, it is recognized that it is ordinarily only small bottles having a limited bottom area that are most likely to be inadvertently tipped over, endangering spilling the contents thereof, and for that reason the utility of the present invention will be found greatest in connection with relatively small bottles. As a matter of illustration it may be stated that bottles of the type in which finger nail enamel, cuticle remover and the like are conventionally sold in, and which ordinarily are from two to three inches in height, are particularly exposed to inadvertent tipping over when supported solely on their base because of the fact that the user is constantly inserting and removing a brush or the like into or from the contents in the bottle. The present invention has for its principal object the provision of a simple and economical device removably applicable to and particularly useful in connection with bottles of the type described which will provide a temporary sufiiciently wide supporting base therefor as to substantially eliminate inadvertent tipping over of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawing and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof it will be noted that the support comprises a relatively flat sheet of material indicated generally at ID. This material is a relatively soft grade of rubber or rubber-like material or compound, referred to herein broadly as rubber, but, of course, of such body as to permit the objects of the present invention to be realized as will hereinafter be more apparent. The support lll may, of course, be formed to any external or perimetrical configuration desired, that shown in Figs 1 to 3, inclusive, being formed to provide a main circular part l2 and an auxiliary circular part I4 attached thereto and serving as a tab or finger piece merely as a matter of convenience. The main portion I2 is centrally severed as at I6 on a diametrical or central line, such line of severance extending completely through the thickness of the material from a point spaced from one edge of the part I2 to a point spaced from the opposite edge thereof. The line of severance I6, as well as the lines I8 to be described, may be formed in the moulding operation where the support I0 is of a moulded character, or may be mechanically out through the support, particularly when the same is formed by cutting or stamping it out of a sheet of rubber as is the preferable method. In the latter case the lines I6 and I8 will be formed by slitting such sheet and, accordingly, will hereinafter be referred to as slits as a matter of convenience. At preferably equally spaced distances along the length of the slit I6 and arranged in .perpendicular relationship with respect thereto and on both sides thereof are a plurality of additional slits I8. The slits I8 form between them fingers 20 the free ends of which lie along the slit I6. Thus two opposed groups of such fingers 20 are provided, all the fingers being parallel with the free ends of the ngers of one group abutting or being adjacent to and opposed to the free ends of the fingers of the other group. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the slits I8 vary in length from one end of the slit I6 to the other end thereof, being shortest adjacent the opposite ends of the slit `I6 and longest adjacent the mid-point thereof, the length of the slits I8 being such that a line drawn to include their outer ends substantially represents a circle concentric with the periphery of the portion I2.

The support I0 is, of course, reversible vso that either side thereof may be employed as the upper surface. In employing the support Il) the preferable mode of operation is to place the bottle to be supported in normal position upon a table or other supporting surface, and apply the support I5 with the plane of its thickness in parallel relation to the surface of the table `downwardly and centrally over the bottle, thisraction causing the ngers 2t over the cross-sectional area of the bottle to be bent upwardly to permit the bottle to pass through them. Where a bottle of square or rectangular cross-sectional'configuration as illustrated at 22 in Fig. 2 is used in conjunction with the support, the bottle is preferably inserted with the longest dimension of its cross-sectional shape parallel with the slit I6, as indicated, and in such eventthose fingers over the central portion of the support I0 and for a distance equal to the width of the bottle 22 will be the ones which yield upwardly to permit the bottle 22 to pass between the group of fingers on each side of the line of slit I6. The support I0 is, of course, pressed outwardly until it firmly engages the surface of the table or other support for the bottle 22 and the free ends of the fingers 2li, in bending upwardly, because of their resiliency will maintain their contact with the opposite sides of the bottle 22, and the areas of Contact will be a material distance above the upper surface of the member i0 depending upon the thickness of the bottle. The fingers 20 thus provide braces between opposite sides of the bottle 22 and the rim of the member I il engaging the sides of the bottle at a point intermediate the length or depth thereof. For this reason it will be appreciated that the rubber from which the support lil is formed, while of such yieldability as to permit the ready application of the support to the bottle, is preferably of such nature as to have a material bracing effect on the bottle when applied thereto. The thickness of the material is, of course, a factor in this respect but from the standpoint of economy in manufacture it is preferable that the mass of rubber in the support be maintained at a reasonably low figure. As a matter of illustration it may be stated that with a suitable grade of rubber the support I0 may be formed from sheets approximately le of an inch thick when adapted for use with bottles from 2 to 3 inches in height.

It will, of course, be appreciated that bottles such as the. bottle 22 illustrated in Fig. 2 of varying cross-sectional dimensions may be employed with a support I0 of one size, for in applying the support to the bottle only those fingers over the width of the bottle will be affected and these will be sprung to an extent commensurate with the size of the bottle in supporting the bottle. Additionally, almost any bottle regardless of its shape and having a cross-sectional configuration which will fall within the circle defined by the outer ends of the slits I8 may be advantageously ernployed in conjunction with the support.

In Fig. 3 the support Il? is shown in operative relation with respect to a bottle of round crosssectional configuration from which it will be apparent that these fingers 29 over the length of the slit I6 equal to the diameter of the bottle are bent up during application of the support I0 to the bottle an amount corresponding with the particular portion of the bottle which such fingers are engaged with, and it will be noted that the fingers 2Q provide bracing engagement with substantially the entire periphery of the bottle 24.

It will likewise be appreciated that the support 'I0 may be advantageously employed with any bottle having a diameter upto substantially the diameter of the circle including the outer ends of the lines of slit I8. It will be understood that because of theY resilient characteristics of the rubber material from which the support I@ is madethe ngers 20 will always return to their normal position illustrated in Fig. 1 when the support is removed from a bottle, and the support may Ibe readily removed from any bottle for future use in connection therewith or in connection with any other bottle of a size capable of being received by the support and regardless of the cross-sectional configuration thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of bottle support is shown and indicated generally at 30. It will be understood that the support 36 is formed from the same material and in substantially the same manner as the support I0, but in this case a tab or linger hold such as the tab I4 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is eliminated so that the support 30 is entirely circular in plan view. Similarly to the support IEI it is provided with a diametrioally arranged slit Ifia corresponding to the slit I6 of the support Ill, and transverse slits Illa corresponding to the slits I8 forming fingers 20a between each adjacent pair of slits I8a. The main difference in this modification is, however, that the slits I8a are all of equal length thus making all of the fingers Zla of equal length. As will be appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 5 the support 30 cooperates with a rectangular sectioned bottle 22a, corresponding to the bottle 22 previously described, in substantially the same manner as the support lil, the main difference being that perhaps the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 may adapt itself more readily to bottles of rectangular cross-sectional conguration than the support I0 but obviously will be operable in conjunction with any bottle capable of being received by it regardless of the cross-sectional configuration of such bottle.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle support comprising a substantially flat piece of rubber, two groups of substantially parallel fingers forming the central portion of said support, said groups being arranged on opposite sides of a centrally located line and with the free ends of said lingers of one group lying ln adjacent and opposed relation with respect to the free ends of the lingers of the other group,

2. A bottle support comprising a sheet-like piece of relatively soft rubber centrally slitted from a point adjacent one edge thereof to a point adjacent the opposite edge thereof, a group of parallel fingers forming the central portion of said support and arranged in two groups one on each side of said slit, said lingers being formed integrally with said support and arranged with the free ends of the fingers in one group in adjacent and opposed relation with respect to the free ends of the corresponding ngers of the opposite group.

3. A support adapted to engage a bottle and be arranged in surrounding relation with respect thereto, said support being initially formed from a substantially at piece of relatively flexible rubber-like material and including two groups of substantially parallel lingers forming the central portion of said support, said groups being arranged on opposite sides of said support with the free ends of the fingers of one group disposed in adjacent and opposed relation With respect to the free ends of the lingers of the other group, and a substantially flat base portion surrounding all of said ngers and integrally connected to the outer ends thereof, said base portion being adapted, when said support is arranged in surrounding relation with respect to a bottle, to lie substantially in the plane of the base of the bottle and thus increase the available base area effective to prevent upsetting of said bottle, and said fingers being adapted, when said support is arranged in surrounding relation with respect to said bottle, to be bent upwardly and engage the sides of the bottle at points spaced upwardly from the plane of the base of the bottle.

DONALD W. TIEGLER.

EDWIN ANGLEMYER. 

